Mail-box.



J. A. AMMANN.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1912.

1,060,659. Patented May 6, 1913.

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JOHN A. AMMANN, 0F GENEVA, IOWA.

MAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6, 1913.

Application filed November 1, 1912. Serial No. 729,175.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. AMMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Geneva, in the county of Franklin and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to mail boxes and more particularly to an improved mail box which is designed for use upon rural ma l routes, the invention having for its primary object to provide means whereby the mail within the box will be automatically released and discharged into the postmans bag or pouch when mail is inserted into the box.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of two doors arranged in one end of the mail box and having a common hinge rod or pintle, said doors opening in opposite direct-ions, and means arranged within the mail box and extending beyond one of the doors to direct mail from the box when the other of the doors is moved to its open position for the insertion of mail matter.

A still further object of the. invention resides in the provision of a flag pivotally mounted upon one side of the box, and connecting means bet-ween the flag staff and door through which the mail matter is discharged from the box whereby the flag is automatically lowered to indicate that the mail matter has been removed and the box is empty.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mail box having the above-mentioned improved features which, however, is of comparatively simple construction, highly durable and of great convenience in use and may be manufactured at comparatively small cost.

With the above and other objects in view as will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a mail box constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the mail releasing door.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates a mail box which in the illustrated embodiment of the invention is shown of rectangular form and is constructed of sheet metal, though it will be understood that the box can also be formed of wood if desired. This box is preferably provided with a rounded roof or top and is secured upon a suitable supporting post indicated at 6 in any usual or preferred manner.

The box 5 is provided in its front wall and in diagonally opposite corners with rectangular openings of suitable size in which the doors 7 and 8 respectively are mounted. The inner face of thefront wall of the mail box is provided with a suitable bearing indicated at 9 in which the central cylindrical portion of a hinge rod or pintle 10 is mount ed. This hinge rod extends horizontally and is located substantially upon the center of said front wall. Upon each side of the central cylindrical portion of the rod, the same is square as shown at 11 and upon these squared portions ofthe rod, the doors 7 and 8 are fixed by bending the metal at one end of the doors and closely engaging the same upon the rod. The extremities of the rod are cylindrical and are adapted to be disposed through openings in the opposite side walls of the box. These cylindrical ends receive suitable retaining means indicated at 12 to prevent longitudinal shifting movement of the rod. At the lower edge' of the door opening in which the door 7 is normally disposed, a coil spring 13 is mounted in any preferred manner. The portion of this spring extends upon the central portion of the door 7 to which the same is permanently secured. This spring acts to normally hold the door in its closed position.

A chute 14 is fastened at one end to the upper wall of the mail box and is inclined downwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 2, said chute extending outwardly beyond the front wall of the mail box and the lower edge of the door 8. The edges of this chute are flanged as indicated at 15 to guide and direct the mail matter which is deposited in the box through the slot 16 in the top wall thereof, the chute of cour% being located immediately beneath this slot. The mail receiving chute 14 is of substantially the same width as the door 8, and the mail matter moves downwardly in the chute against the inner face of this door.

It will be obvious that by means of the above construction, when the door 7 is forced inwardly to deposit mail matter withinthe box, the door 8 will be swung outwardly and upwardly, thus releasing the mail matter in the chute 14 so that it gravitates outwardly and downwardly therein and is deposited in the mail mans bag or other receptacle arranged beneath the outer end of the chute. The outer end of the chute is preferably bent or curved so as to permit of the easy removal of the mail therefrom. In order to obviate liability of the mail matter sticking upon the bottom wall of the chute 14, I provide upon the inner face of the door 8, a pairof rods 16, the ends of which terminate in hooks. These hooks are normally disposed above the chute l-ft so that they will not interfere with the downward movement of the mail matter, and when the door 8 is opened, the hooks engage the mail upon the bottom of the chute and dislodge the same so that its release is assured.

Upon one of the sidewalls of the box 5, a flag 17 is mounted, -the staff thereof being fulcrumed adjacent its lower end upon a pin 18 fixed to the side wall of the box. The lower end of this staff is provided with an aperture to which one end of'a cord, chain or other flexible connection 19 is attached, the other end thereof being secured to the door 8. A stop plate 20 is secured to the side wall of the box 5 against which the flag staff engages when the flag is raised. In the upward swinging movement of the door 8, a pull is exerted upon the connection 19 so that the flag 17 will be automatically lowered, thus indicating that the mail matter has been removed from the box.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner of operation of my improved mail box will be clearly understood. The same is of great convenience in practical use and relieves the mail man of considerable labor as well as effectingan appreciable saving in time.

Owing to the fact that but few parts are employed in the construction of the device, it will be obvious that the same can be manufactured at small cost and is extremely strong, durable and efiicient in practical use. WVhile Ihave shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the several elements, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of considerable modification without departing from the essential features or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1.- The combination with a mail box, of a pair of doors mounted in the front wall thereof, a common hinge rod for said doors mounted upon the front wall of the mail box, said doors being movable in opposite directions means normally acting to yieldingly hold the doors in their closed positions, an inclined mail receiving chute mounted within the box and extending beyond one of the-doors, said latter door opening outwardly to release the mail for movement in the chute, and means carried by said door to engage the mail and insure its movement when the door is opened.

2. The combination with a mail box, of a pair of doors mounted in the front wall thereof, a common hinge rod for said doors, the doors being located upon opposite sides of the rod to open in opposite directions, a spring bearing upon one of the doors to normally hold said doors closed, an inclined mail discharge chute arranged within the box and extending outwardly beneath one of said doors, said door' opening outwardly to release the mail for downward movement in the chute, and means fixed to the inner face ofsaid door to engage the mail in the chute and insure its downward movement when the door is opened.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in thepre sence of two witnesses.

. JOHN A. AMMANN. IVitnesses:

Mrs. J. A. AMMANN, TONY SNATER. 

